The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1887-07-27


datIon."
Mr.. Belcher now discovered that he
had no ordinary person To deal with.
She was either innocent or the most
brazen criminal he had ever met.
y yver had he known one actually guilty
10 assume her manner and tone. The
sheriff thought: "Of course. she is
guilty. Judge Arnold's family stand
too high in social circles to have made
Il false report on the girl, and the Judge
is too shrewd to be mistaken. OF
course she is guilty. Judge Arnold
can have no deep game to play in this
matter" The girl was poor and friend
less, and he had expressed himself as
regretting that it had occurred. lie
looked at Helen. She met his eyes with
an unwavcring gaze. Her manner
said: II have done nothing to merit
this, and can not be made to bow my
head in shame. You may punish me if
you will, but you can not break my
spirit"
"She is certainly a case" thought
the sheriff, turning his face toward the
coach window. "Oh, | do wish she
would plead guilty; she's foolish if she
don't"
The last was muttcred loud enough
for Helen to hear. She quickly re-
sponded:
1T may be foolish TO plead not
guilty, Mr.. Bclchcr, but it will be right.
1t is better To be right than to be wise
The sheriff was silenced The village
was soon reached, and the rockaway
drove up to the office of the magiS-
trate.
Squire Buffers had his Office in an old
frame building on the ground floor, not
many rods removed from the post
office, which was on the corner of the
square. The justice of the peace was II
portly man. with gray hair and a pair
Of spectacles upon his nose. He was
writing on his docket on the entrance
of the sheriff with his prisoner. The
old justice looked up and then pushed
his Spectaclcs upon his forehead. No
sooner did his eyes rest upon the fair
prisoner, then he started. Squire Bluff
ers was man with big, kind heart,
and to see one so young and handsome
as Helen Lakeman fallen, touched him.
This is the person." said the sheriff,
gruffly. Since he had found Helen SO
much more hardened than he had
expected, he had lost much of his SYM
pathy for her. The justice, in the
absence of the prosecuting attorney,
read the complaint to her, and asked
her whether she was guilty or not
guilty.
Not guilty." was the response.
The magistrate folded up the COM
plant, and, putting it in Il large envcl-
ope, thrust it back in a pigeon-holc.
There was few moments silence, when
the justice. taking up his pen, said:
"Have you lawyer"
"No SIR" Helen answered.
"Haye you money to employ law
yer?"
mo sir; had but two dollars and
fifty cents, and l gave that to my little
brother, when left him."
"Do you want an examination now,
lO-uiN, VI NOulN y pu lttiitl "dil'
Helen felt prompted to ask for
delay, and she did so.
"Can you give bonds for your appear
ancc here in ten days?"
Il think not" Helen answered. 81
know but very few persons, and those |
do not know | would not like to ask to
go on my bond"
IL will make it small if you will make
an effort"
alt would be no usc," said Helen,
sadly.
IL don't like to send a nice little girl
like you to Jail, said the justice, with
n flattering smile.
II do not like 10 go there" said
Helen. brushing tear from her cheek,
"but | suppose it can't be helped. 1t
may be that sometime the world will
know that am innocent, though it is
impossible to convince people now"
Il will continue your case for ten
days, my good girl in the meanwhile
/ will have to commit you. Mr.. Bridges,
the jailor, is very nice man, and he
may not lock you up in cell, but let
you stay with his family"
The suggestion Of the justice seemed
to strike the sheriff favorably. He
said he would see Bridges about it. Mr.
Bridges had the front part of the Jail
converted into dwelling where him
self and family lived. He was found
and the thing tslked over If it could
be done he had no objection. Mr..